It's Artichoke season, but other than that, there's very little yet to eat from Haddock's, apart from a few Strawberries.
They're a bit fiddly to prepare, and a bit messy to eat, but it's all worthwhile. My particular one's, above, are also VERY spikey.
I always used to buy the big round green ones, that were boiled and eaten leaf by leaf. These days I prefer the purple tinged ones that are trimmed down, cooked, and eaten whole. Maybe that's because they're the ones I grow myself.
I really need a lot more plants as each picking is quite small. Luckily Lady M is not a huge fan, so I usually get more than my fair share. Yum.
Many so Many years ago I grew Artichokes and I love them. We also grill them. I have never had the ones you showed. They look so wonderful. Do you eat the fuzzy heart ?
ReplyDeleteThe 'fuzzy' heart doesn't form in the same way as in the big round ones, it just becomes part of the edible whole. One needs to pick them quite young, of course.
DeleteMust try this right away !
DeleteThank You
There is a recipe for artichoke hearts stuffed with meat, I have never tried it.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine that... I like them plain, with a vinaigrette.
DeleteI don't think Paul has got room in his patch to grow artichoke, it looks like a very big plant. We are picking spinach right now but it will be a while before the strawberries are ripe.
ReplyDeleteOne really needs a large area of plants to have a good supply. I don't unfortunately. I do have a row of Perpetual Spinach which is almost ready to pick, but I'll probably leave it for a week or two. We had a good picking of Strawberries yesterday.
DeleteDarn, I wish I'd seen this before. Our season is over now. We were given a bunch of those purple ones and I trimmed them down to just the heart. I was wary of using the rest. I probably threw away the best.
ReplyDeleteIn Crete they eat them raw as a snack with raki
The stems are good too. I always keep about 3 or 4 inches of stem. I can't understand why your season should be so much earlier than ours, maybe your varieties are different?
DeleteI love artichokes, but I have never seen this type before! You better thank your lucky stars, because if I were around, you probably wouldn't get more than your fair share. I like that they are perennials.
ReplyDeleteWe can also buy bunches of these ones in the supermarkets. I often buy them before our own ones are ready.
DeleteI absolutely LOVE artichokes, either dipping the leaves in butter/vinaigrette or eating the hearts. If I'm being lazy { which is quite often !!! } I buy the ones in oil in jars that have been grilled with garlic and herbs. XXXX
ReplyDeleteThe ones in jars or tins are very good, I always have some in the cupboard.
DeleteHave you any idea why there are globe artichokes and Jerusalem artichokes? They seem so very different in almost every way.
ReplyDeleteThe Jerusalem Artichoke doesn't come from Jerusalem, nor is it an Artichoke. In fact I think it's a member of the Sunflower family. Its name is a mystery.
DeleteThey are a bit like water chestnuts in a stir fry. Apart from the name they have nothing in common with your globe ones. They are a root vegetable.
DeleteI grow them too... in fact you can't stop them!
DeleteI've never eaten an artichoke, what do they taste like, asparagus or something else?
ReplyDeleteThey taste green and earthy, with a hint of Asparagus.... very difficult to describe 'flavour'.
DeleteI've eaten artichokes on pizza and in dips, but have never cooked them or eaten them with just vinaigrette. Sounds good, though!
ReplyDeleteThey're attractive plants, you could grow some (at the back) in amongst your flowers. I know people who don't eat them, and just leave the heads for the huge 'Thistle-like' flowers.
DeleteWe love artichokes... but have only had the round globe type. We eat them plain (dipped in melted butter) or stuffed with lots of breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and garlic! And I think the plants are very interesting looking... although we've never grown them ourselves.
ReplyDeleteMr. P's family come from the self-proclaimed artichoke capital of Italy, where everyone is an expert on the different Italian-style preparations. Theirs look much like yours and are eaten young. We used to be spoilt with jars of preserved hearts but no longer, sadly, and don't often buy them from the shoppes as they're pretty $$. I do love them, though, and yours look delicious!
ReplyDelete